New York Family Stories: Surviving in a Time of a Pandemic

New York City Health Department reports staggering COVID-19 numbers. As of May 17, there are 190,408 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The details can be numbing:

Confirmed deaths: 15,888
Probable deaths: 4,832
50,120 people hospitalized

Five of my immediate family members live in New York.

My sister Virginia Ruiz Badillo and our brother, Donnie Ruiz live in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx. The borough has the highest rate of cases per 100,000 people: 2,941. Their actual total cases, however, are the third highest in the city: 43,252. Joseph Ruiz lives in Brooklyn, New York. The borough only has 1,916 cases per 100,000 people for a total of 51,931. The total is the second largest in the city.

Virginia Ruiz Badillo, along with Donnie Ruiz, has been self-quarantined in our family house since March. Unlike our sister, Margaret Ruiz, who we interviewed last week, Virginia is still working albeit from home. In our interview, Virginia admits that she’s only been out and about no more than 3 or 4 times in nearly three months. According to Virginia, there were days in the beginning when it was tough getting adjusted to the new normal. There was the anxiety of it all.

“There are the days, not a lot, maybe three times that I’ve gotten up during the night anxious. Then there are times that I got up and just felt depressed.”

Virginia’s life, like so many in New York, was upended by the pandemic. The routine and freedom evaporated in a moment: traveling from the Bronx to lower Manhattan for work, going to dinner and Broadway shows with friends.

“I’ve lost my freedom but I’m also very scared about getting sick.”

Joseph Ruiz lives with his wife, Chan, in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, New York. They are close to the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge that connects Brooklyn to Staten Island. Joseph is also working from home but his situation is more fragile. He’s suffering from an illness that makes his immune system vulnerable. For Joseph, traveling outside the safety of home for errands, even with masks and gloves, can be an unnerving experience. It’s especially true considering that not everyone practices safe protocols (Yes, even in New York City).

“… because you’re always worrying about who you’re going to come in contact with, [that] you’re going to be exposed to this BS.”

But, Joseph adds, the reality is you eventually have to go out for food, to the bank or go to the pharmacy for prescriptions.